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Five of the most elite cattle producers and Brangus breeders were honored by the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) for their outstanding achievements and their contributions to the Brangus breed as well as the beef cattle industry.

The Pioneer Award recognizes an IBBA member, past or present, for his/her service, loyalty and contributions to the Brangus breed. Jerry Morrow served as IBBA’s Executive Vice President from 1980 to 1988 and had an influential role in the association. Several advancements were initiated under his leadership including the first National Junior Brangus Show, first National Brangus Sire Evaluation, first Brangus bull sale at the National Western Livestock Show in Denver, and the first of any breed to have ultrasound enhanced carcass expected progeny difference (EPDs).

Trey Kirkpatrick, David Vaughan, Susan Vaughan, and Dr. Tommy Perkins

David Vaughan also received the Pioneer Award for his influence both domestically and internationally. Vaughan was the owner of Salacoa Valley Farms in Fairmount, Ga., which sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. He served the IBBA in several capacities including a term as president in 2007-2008, and he was awarded the Brangus Breeder of the Year award in 2005 for his progressive ideas and successful operation.

Steve Densmore, Dr. Robert Vineyard, and Traci Middleton

Steve Densmore of Bryan, Texas, was one of two recipients of the Breeder of the Year Award. The substantial amount of carcass data the IBBA has received on fed Brangus steers is, in part, due to Densmore’s dedication to the Brangus breed. He has a passionate devotion to the Junior Brangus Association and was the recipient of the Georganne Myers Award in 2011 for his support of the Junior program. Densmore also served on the IBBA Board of Directors from 1997 until 2003 and was elected President in 2002. He was elected to another three-year term from 2010 to 2013, which collectively totals 10 years on the IBBA board.

Tracy Holbert, Penny Coggins, Mike Coggins, and Traci Middleton

Mike Coggins was another recipient of the Breeder of the Year Award for his progressive ideas and outstanding seedstock operation. Coggins is a truly progressive breeder who produces some of the best genetics with the latest technologies available. Coggins owns Blackwater Cattle Company in Lake Park, Ga., where he oversees a purebred Brangus cattle business along with a diversified agriculture operation. He is very knowledgeable about all sectors of the industry and understands the needs of commercial cattlemen, seedstock producers and consumers alike.

The Commercial Producer of the Year award was presented to Russell Trefney of Weimar, Texas, in recognition of his achievements and success of incorporating Brangus genetics in his commercial cattle operation. A fifth generation cattleman, Trefny found Brangus to be the best breed for his crossbreeding operation in Central Texas in order to maintain a consistent product that resulted in higher quality carcass grades at the harvesting stage, making it more profitable for him to retain ownership through the feedlot.

Award recipients were presented their awards Friday, March 7, 2014, by the IBBA in Houston, Texas, at the IBBA annual convention. Award recipients are nominated and selected by the IBBA Awards Committee. Please visit http://www.gobrangus.com for more information.

Brangus Operations Join Forces to Form Partnership

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch, with locations in Poteet, McCoy and Beaumont, Texas, and Crochet Cattle Company in Lafayette, La., announce the formation of a new Brangus partnership to combine desirable Brangus genetics.

Doguet’s Diamond D, long known for performance cattle that are dominant in the showring as well as the pasture, was the 2011 Brangus Breeder of the Year. Doguet’s exhibited the 2012 International Grand Champion bull, the 2013 International Grand Champion Female and 2012 Show Heifer of the Year, DDD MS Barbara 804Y61. The 2013 Futurity Grand Champion female, CMR MS Lanie 488Z, was sired by DDD Black Gold 804S25 and out of a female purchased in the Doguet’s 2010 annual sale. The 2013 National Junior Heifer Show Grand Champion, DDD MS Chariti 88Z10, was purchased in the 2012 Doguet sale by the Johnston family. Doguet’s Hercules has been awarded the Show Sire of the Year twice and has sired many winning offspring. Doguet’s also continue to focus on bulls for South Texas ranchers, selling 72 bulls in last fall’s sale for an average of $3,955.

The Crochet Cattle Company herd is the oldest continuously operated Ultrablack herd in the nation. It began 17 years ago as a data driven beef cow herd and, in its current form, writes some of the highest IMF EPDs in the Brangus industry. The herd is third and fourth generation Ultrablack (50 percent Brangus and 50 percent Angus) for added consistency and has been selected for fertility, milk, udder quality and real world performance on grass in the hot and humid conditions of south Louisiana.

The two programs will operate as one unit with one vision. They will combine the strengths of their programs while maintaining the individuality of their breeding operations and their brands. They will multiply the elite genetics present in both herds while capturing and infusing those genetics in both. Their mission is to produce the most powerful, proven and consistent Brangus and Ultrablack cattle available in the beef cattle industry and to grow their market share and numbers to meet that demand.

Doguet’s Diamond D production sale is scheduled for Saturday, October 19, 2013. They will sell 100 Brangus and Ultrablack bulls and 60 registered Brangus and Ultrablack females.

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A fifth generation producer from Argentina, Carlos Ojea Rullan and his family have been involved in the cattle business since 1878. One of the world’s most prestigious cattleman, Ojea has chosen the Brangus breed as a personal investment. In 2010, he started a new cattle company, and after much research, decided that Brangus was the best option for his new operation.

Ojea manages or consults 17 other cattle companies as well as his own family’s operations. In the last 20 years, these ranches have collectively obtained the world record of 124 Grand Champions, Reserve Grand Champions and Third Best bull or female titles in the prestigious global Palermo Show in the Angus, Brangus, Hereford, Braford and Shorthorn breeds.

Ojea has also served as a respectable judge in numerous show rings around the world. In the last six years, he has judged 18 of the most prestigious shows in for the Brangus, Angus, Hereford and Braford breeds. Having judged shows in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay and Colombia, his extensive experience and knowledge makes him one of the most demanded judges in the world.

“I have been involved in the cattle business for 35 years, more than 70 percent of my lifetime,” Ojea said.

Ojea said there were very few things in his life as a cattleman that have impressed him more than the Brangus breed.

“The breed’s versatility and ability to adapt to any kind of land and limitations in the Northern Argentina’s hot subtropical climate really caught my eye since the beginning,” Ojea said. “This part of our country has high temperatures that rise up to 50 degrees Celsius with all the insects and forage limitations that these conditions generate.”

In recent years, Northern Argentina has been showing an amazing increase in numbers and quality of cattle. Ojea recognizes the Brangus breed as one of the contributors of this genetic improvement.

“Because of this phenomenon, the demand of quality bulls and heifers is increasing every year with more breeders getting involved,” Ojea said. “We put a lot emphasis on selecting Brangus that will work in the real world.”

Ojea said producers select for longevity, functionality, productivity, fertility and need to have the capacity to produce good quality meat in subtropical weather conditions. He said their commercial breeders put a lot of weight on phenotype and demonstrate functionality and beef production in one package. “That means moderate frame, thick, deep and powerful bodies as well as short hair,” Ojea said.

“We have been using some American Brangus genetics, both black and red,” Ojea said. “When we look for an American Brangus bulls, we try to find open pedigrees, good EPDs, fundamentally moderate frame and powerful phenotype that will adapt appropriately to our environment. These kinds of American genetics have been very helpful in our advancement in quality.”

Ojea is regarded as one of the most renowned cattlemen of our time, and is well known for his leadership and advancements made in the industry for improving genetic quality.

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IBBA features Emily Jackson in the Junior Spotlight. From Waco, Texas, Emily is the reigning Miss International Junior Brangus Association Queen and is actively involved in the IJBBA. Emily has a strong passion for the agriculture industry. She is currently a junior at Texas Tech University and wishes to be a lobbyist or an advocate for the agriculture industry, disproving false claims made by organizations with an anti-meat agenda. Watch the video to see how the IJBBA has made an impact on Emily’s life.

Tallahassee, FL– Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam recognized Allen and Nicki Smith, owners and operators of Southern Accent Farm of Okeechobee, Fla., as the recipients of the 2012 Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award. Sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the award recognizes agricultural enterprises that demonstrate leadership in developing and implementing innovated and progressive techniques to safeguard the environment and conserve natural resources.

“Agriculture is not your stereotypical Norman Rockwell painting,” said Commissioner Putnam. “These operations are just two examples of how the industry is using high-tech solutions and innovation to maintain its position as one of the state’s strongest economic pillars, but also ensure that the natural resources Florida is known for are available for generations to come.”

Southern Accent Farm is a purebred Brangus and commercial cattle operation, which utilizes a full suite of water quality best management practices, allowing the farm to harness the natural pressure of an artesian well to supply a series of water troughs to their pastures. The ranch is also home to the largest commercial solar array in the glades Electric Coops territory, producing enough electricity for the operations of the 824-acre ranch.

Like many producers, Tommie Rogers of The Branch Ranch located in North Louisiana near Mansfield, started out in the beef industry raising commercial cattle. He bought into the seedstock industry with just six registered cows and one registered bull in the early 1980’s. Shortly after, his daughters were interested in showing Brangus cattle, and Rogers quickly got more involved in the Brangus breed.

Rogers knows a thing or two about successful marketing and promotion. Once he had obtained a line of quality genetics, Rogers established his own successful breeding program called the rough and ready program. He thought the industry needed to focus more on serving the commercial producer, and Rogers found his niche by providing tough, rugged bulls that would work for that sector. Rogers said having integrity is most important and makes the difference between just making a sale and being successful in the industry.

“It takes a combination of getting established and building integrity,” Rogers said. “Once you’ve been established, build integrity and stand behind the product you market.”

Rogers established the rough and ready program when he realized he needed to market a herd bull that would work hard at two years old and survive in tough conditions. He also knew seedstock producers needed to start providing bulls that would withstand the toughest environments, perform for commercial cattlemen and fit the needs of their breeding programs.

“I implement a fence-line weaning process then we grade our bulls and bring them into a controlled environment until they’re yearling age to gather data. Then I kick them out on rough country where the natural culling process begins,” Rogers said. “I am then able to market hardy bulls that are ready to go to work.”

Rogers said he culled stringently to increase the quality of his herd, keeping in mind the long-term goals he set for the program. The Branch Ranch has been able to sell bulls under the rough and ready program for about 10 years. He said it took some time for customers to realize the kind of product they were buying, but once the program was established, the number of repeat customers confirmed the program was working.

“Our Brangus breed is a hardy breed and has many advantages qualities,” Rogers said, ”but I’ve got to raise him and train him to live a hardy lifestyle. I can stand behind my product and not worry about anything because I know my bulls will work.”

Rogers knows the value of Brangus bulls, but he also reminds breeders of the value of the Brangus female. The BrangusGold tagging program offered by the IBBA ensures buyers they are getting quality, verified Brangus genetics. Especially during this drought period, Rogers said seedstock producers need to promote the commercial man’s need for quality replacement females.

“Our breed is here today because of the females the commercial cattlemen can retain in their herds and will perform,” Rogers said. “The calves produced out of that herd can produce quality carcass traits that will grade on the rail, but our females carry the maternal traits the commercial man is looking for. The Brangus cow is what brought us to the dance.”

Rogers served on several committees while serving on the IBBA Board of Directors from 1995-2003 and has since been a strong proponent of the Brangus breed. Rogers said adaptability, endurance and the value of the Brangus female are three strengths that set the breed apart from all others. Promoting those advantages to the commercial producer and keeping long-term goals in sight will ensure the future success of the Brangus breed.

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SAN ANTONIO, TX [October 5, 2012] – R.L. Robbs, President of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Board of Directors, was inducted into the Willcox, Ariz., Cowboy Hall of Fame Thursday, October 4, 2012. He was selected and honored by his peers for his involvement and dedication to the livestock industry at the local, state and national levels, as well as for his stewardship and preservation of natural resources.

“I feel honored to be recognized by my community and peers as someone who is just doing what they love to do every day,” Robbs said.

R.L. Robbs, President of the IBBA Board of Directors, of Willcox, Ariz., was recently inducted into the Arizona Cowboy Hall of Fame for his dedication and service to the cattle industry.

The Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture hosted the 30th annual Cowboy Hall of Fame dinner to recognize Robbs and two other inductees, Chad Bourne and Jack Post. These deserving inductees exhibit compelling work ethics, perseverance and genuine characteristics of a treasured heritage and lifestyle.

Robbs grew up on a small farm in West Texas and graduated from Plainview High School. He continued his higher education at West Texas State University, now West Texas A&M University, in Canyon, Texas, where the highlight of his collegiate career was winning the collegiate livestock judging contest at the Houston Livestock Show his senior year. After receiving his bachelor’s in Animal Husbandry, Robbs worked on his graduate work at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M., and then served two years in the United States Army. Following his time in the service, Robbs moved to Willcox, Ariz., where he met and married his wife, Sally. Together, they own and manage Robbs Brangus cattle operation.

Robbs has been breeding, showing and promoting Brangus cattle for the last 45 years and has proven to be a tremendous asset to the cattle industry. He has been a dedicated member of the Southwest Brangus Breeders Association (SWBBA) for most of his professional career and has also been an integral supporter of the Southwest Junior Association.

For more information about Robbs and other Brangus operations, visit www.gobrangus.com.

About the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame:

In early 1983 a small group of Willcox leaders launched an effort to honor one of the important resources of the Willcox area – its people. The first six charter members were selected and their portraits painted ready for the first induction ceremony held in September 1983. The inaugural event was celebrated with a steak dinner and proved to be a great success. While initially housed at the Willcox Chamber of Commerce building, the Cowboy Hall of Fame portrait gallery is currently located in the Rex Allen ‘Arizona Cowboy’ Museum in the historic downtown area.